Ideology

Tsarist Russia and World War One

  • Title: Could Tsarist Russia Have Survived if World War One Had Not Occurred?

Political Ideology and Parties in Tsarist & Revolutionary Russia

  • Title: Political Ideology & Parties

Key Political Ideas

Autocracy

  • Defined as a political system where all power resides with one person (the autocrat).

  • In Russia, this was exemplified by Tsarism, with the Tsar as a divine right absolute monarch.

Liberalism

  • A political ideology focusing on the individual’s political and social rights, and the rule of law.

  • Russian liberals advocated for reforms (ranging from moderate to radical) and a monarchy with democratic representation.

Marxism

  • Based on the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

  • Employs dialectical materialism to examine human society's history scientifically.

  • Key works include "The Communist Manifesto" (1848) and "Das Kapital" (1867).

  • Foundation of socialist theories, including communism.

Key Terminology in Marxism

  • Bourgeoisie: The social class owning production means (middle-class equivalent).

  • Proletariat: The working class that sells labor (doesn't own production means).

Key Ideas of Marxism

  • History viewed as class struggles built on economic relationships.

  • Change is inevitable; capitalism results in social injustice and exploitation.

  • Religion as an illusion that distracts the masses.

  • Emphasis on class consciousness preceding revolution for communism.

  • Progression from pre-capitalist to capitalist, ultimately leading to a classless, stateless society.

Political Parties and Groups in Tsarist & Revolutionary Russia

Major Political Groups

  • Social Democrats (SDs): Split into Bolsheviks (majoritarians) and Mensheviks (minoritarians).

  • Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs): Arose from (Narodniks) populists.

  • Additional groups include: Octobrists, Kadets (Constitutional Democrats), Trudoviks (Labour Group), Rightists, and various national parties.

Study Activities

  • Document for political groups available on OneNote for completion of table tasks.

  • Suggested research: Textbook pp20-24 & 49 and PDF on OneNote.

  • Further reading: Biographies of Lenin and Trotsky on pp26-27 of the textbook.